Climate Trends Air Quality Series – Citizen Matters, Chennai

Lives clouded by dust: Crushing units choke Tirusulam residents

December 4, 2018 Aruna Natarajan

Rock crushing and m-sand units operating in the open and trucks ferrying gravel cause serious pollution and health risks in the Tirusulam area; yet they are also a source of livelihood for residents who often hold their peace for that reason.

Dust, dust everywhere: The ignored pollutant in Chennai’s air

November 30, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

Unchecked industrial pollution and unplanned construction are creating hazardous levels of dust pollution in the city, but authorities are yet to formulate guidelines for compliance with central rules on construction and demolition waste management.

Can electric vehicles check rising carbon emissions in Chennai?

November 2, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

A recent study has ranked Chennai second among all metros in terms of overall vehicular emissions. It also stands second in fuel consumption. Can electric vehicles provide a solution? What could be the ways to expedite the switch?

What is stopping Chennai autos from taking the LPG route?

October 12, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

Vehicular pollution is a critical problem in Chennai and yet more than 25000 auto-rickshaws continue to ply on diesel and petrol. Why are auto drivers unwilling to switch over to LPG, despite enjoying assurance of subsidies under government policy?

Ignorance, corruption or lax policing: What ails PUC checks of Chennai’s 54 lakh vehicles?

September 28, 2018 Aruna Natarajan

Some bribe a centre and get a ‘Pollution Under Control’ certificate. Some take it easy because there’s never any checking anyway, while some are simply unaware. This, in a city that ranks second in the country in terms of polluting emissions from vehicles.

Mileage, check. Colour, check. Did you check emissions from your new vehicle?

September 19, 2018 Laasya Shekhar

Vehicular emissions are among the chief sources of pollutants in Chennai’s air. But how many people know that they can check the environmental performance of their vehicle at the time of buying, by looking at a document that the dealer is mandated by law to provide to every customer?